Moistening device for cigar boxes



(No Model.) 1

B. A. RICH. MOISTENING DEVIGE'FOR CIGAR BOXES.

Patentd Jan. 2, 1894.

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vuaumaiu n c UNITED STATES PATENT EMANUEL A. RICH, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IVIOISTENING DEVICE FOR CIGAR-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,121, dated January2, 1894. Application filed February 2, 1893. $erial No. 460,711. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMANUEL ADOLPH Bron, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful-Improvements in Cigar-Moistening Devices forCigar-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My invention relates to cigar moistening devices, and more particularlyto a moistener which is applicable to cigar boxes which have been packedwith cigars and placed on the dealers shelves for sale, or for use bythe consumer.

It is well known that a great trouble experienced by cigar dealers andconsumers in the use of cigars, is that when kept in adry place, or fromnatural causes, the cigars become so dry as to be unfit for use; and theobject of my invention is to provide a means within the boxes in whichcigars are packed, whereby the cigars may be moistened and kept in amoist condition for any length of time.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure1 is a perspective view of a cigar box having my improved moisteningdevice applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the moisteningdevice removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the same, taken online l1 of Fig. 2.

A represents a cigar box, and B a receiver for the moistener 0. As willbe seen by the drawings the receiver B is constructed of two separateplates, said plates being connected together at the sides and bottom,and secured one to the other in such manner as to form a pocket. The topof said receiver B is open topermit theinsertion or removal of themoistener O. The front plate a is perforated at its upper portion forapurpose to be described hereinafter, and the back plate I) is solid overits entire surface.

The moistening device is formed of a strip of metal folded upon itself,and is adapted to receive within the fold a suitable absorbent material,such as blotting paper, felt, &c. As seen in the drawings I prefer touse three thicknesses of blotting paper 0 for this purpose.

The moistening device 0 is provided with perforations in its upper sideportion for the purpose of enabling the absorbent mater al to receiveand exhale moisture. The moistening device 0 when charged with moistureis adapted to be inserted within the recelver, when moisture will becaused to enter the box through the perforations in both the moisteningdevice and the receiver.

The device 0 is moistened by dipping it inverted in water, allowing itto remain in the Water only a sufficient length of time for the outsidesheets of blotting to become saturated. By. this means the middle sheetof blotting will absorb any superfluous water. The lower portion of thedevice 0 is solid to prevent the absorbent material contained in saidportion from receiving moisture. The device 0 being inserted in thereceiver, the moisture with which the upper portion of the absorbentmaterial has been saturated will gradually soak down toward the loweredge, and that portion of the absorbent materlal which is covered by thesolid lower portion of the device 0 will absorb some of the superfluousmoisture. Notwithstanding these pro- 7 5 visions to prevent water fromflowing into the box, it is possible that afew drops might escape fromthe device 0. To prevent these drops from entering the box and damagingthe cigars, the lower portion (not perforated) of the receiver B isformed in the shape of a trough which serves to collect any escapingwater.

The moistening device C is provided with a lip or shoulder d by whichitmay be removed 8 from the receiver.

My invention as described does not necessitate any alteration in theconstruction of the ordinary cigar boxes, and in this form it isapplicable for use where the boxes are sold intact to the consumer, whocan use the moistener after he has bought and opened the box.

Where it is desired to preserve the cigars in their boxes in a moistcondition without opening said boxes or breaking the revenue stamps, Iprovide ail-auxiliary lid D directly over the receiver B. This lid maybeopened without violating the internal revenue laws, as the goods couldnot be removed through such opening, but would permit of the retoo movaland insertion of the moistening device with ease, thus preserving thegoods in a proper condition'for use.

Having now described my invention, I declare that what I claim is Thecombination with a cigar box, of a receiving device B within said box,said receiving device formed of two plates secured together, closed atthe sides and bottom, and open at the top, one plate having perforationsalong its upper portion; a removable moistening device contained withinsaid receiver comprising a strip of metal folded upon itself, one of theflaps formed thereby being provided with perforations; absorbentmaterial within the fold; a lip to facilitate the removal of themoistening device from the receiver, and an auxiliary box lid D. situateover the mouth of the receiver, substantially as and for the purposesherein shown'and de- 20

